Automatic sprinkler system.



P. J. NEILON.

AUTOMATlC SPRINKLER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8.1916.

1,$12,096. Patented Jan. 9,1917.

amen Mom P. J. NEmom PATRICK JAMES NEILON, 0F CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

Application filed July 8, 1916. Serial No. 108,228.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, PATRICK J. NEILON, a subject of the King of England, residing at Connersville, in the county of Fayette and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Sprinkler Systems, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. This invention relates to certain improvements in automatic sprinkler systems wherein a suitable alarm is provided to be operated whenever there is a continuous dis charge of water through the system due to the opening of one or more of the sprinkler heads. 7

It is another and more particular object of the invention to provide in combination with two sprinkler systems and a single hydraulically operated alarm device therefor, means automatically operating to prevent the passage of water from one system into the other when the former is in operation. 7

The above noted object is accomplishedby means of a single double-acting check valve 'interposed between the pipe connections of the sprinkler systems and the alarm device and which normally gravitates to a position to close communication between one of the systems and said device, said valve after the operation of either system, permitting the water to drain back through the pipe connections into the return chambers from which it is discharged through suitable waste ports.

It is a further general object of the invention to provide a device for the purpose above'stated, which is exceedingly simple and will not add materially to the cost of installation of such automatic sprinkling systems and may be advantageously employed either with dry or wet system or a combination of the two.

With the above and other objects in view, myinvention consists in the novel features of construction, combination; and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is an elevation showing two sprinkler systems of the type generally known as the Rockwood system illustrating the pipe connections between the same and the hydraulically operated alarm device with my improved double-acting control valve arranged therein; Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the check valve; and Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a slightly modified form of the valve. I

In the accompanying drawing, for illustrative purposes only, I have shown my invention as applied to the latest improved type of the Rockwood automatic fire sprinkler system, which generally corresponds in all essential features to the apparatus shown and described in Patent #1,051,266, issued to George I. Rockwood, January 21st, 1913. It is to be clearly understood, however, that myinvent'ion is not limited in its practical application, to this particular sprinkler system but may also be advantageously employed in various other systems of the dry or wet type known to the art.

As the sprinkler system per se constitutes no part of the present invention, its detail features will not be specifically described and a general reference to the system will suffice with theipurposes of the present specification. Referring then to the accompanying drawing, 5 designates the sprinkler supply pipe which is fed from a pipe 6 leading to a source of water supply under pres- Between these pipes 5 and 6, a suitable casing or' housing 7 is interposed in which any approved type of valve is contained to normally cut off communication between the feed pipe and the sprinkler pipe 5. A suitable pressure gage indicated at 8, is preferably provided whereby the water pressure passing through the valve chamber may be ascertained. i

=9 designates the return chamber and 10 a pipe connection between the lower end of this chamber and the by-pass which is normally closed by the cut-01f valve in the casing 7 A waste pipe 11 is connected to the bottom of the chamber 9 and within said chamber a suitable valve mechanism is providedto close the waste pipe 11 when water under pressure is admitted to said chamber.

12 designates a hydraulically operated alarm. device which may be similar to that disclosed in the patent above referred to and consists in a suitably constructed water wheel, to the shaft of which a hammer 13 is fixed for engagement with a bell 14. A pipe 15 isconnected to the upper end of each of the return chambers 9 and'is connected to a jsuitablecasinglG infwhich a diaphragm or.

. other movable means is arranged to be actupipe 19 is connected to the casing of the alarm device 12 to discharge water upon the vanes orbuckets of the wheel mounted there in. An internal annular shoulder or seat 21 is formed in the coupling member 20 be- 7 low. the laterally projecting'nipple thereof and at the inner endof this nipple a second annular shoulderor seat 22 is formed.

23 indicates a gravity check valve which is'pivoted or fulcrumed as at 2at-within the coupling 20'and at the juncture or contiguous portions of the two valve seats .21 and 22.

Normally, the, valve plate 23 is engaged through the pipes 18' and 19 7 device 12.

upon the seat 21 and closes communication I between the sprinkler system at'the left of the drawing and the one on' the right, said latter system being in open commumcation wlththe alarm Assuming that one of the sprinkler heads of the system at the left ofthe drawing is broken or destroyed, the pressure of water through the pipe 6 will open the valve in the chamber? and the main volume of water willpass into the pipe .5. Some of the water will flow'through the bypass of the pipe 10 and the return chamber 9. This chamber will rapidly fill and the water will rise through the pipe 15 and actuate the circuit closer to ring the bell 17.7 Thewater will also pass through the pipe 18 and force the check valve 23 upwardly into engagement upon the seat 22 and thus rise through the pipe 19 and actuate the hydraulically operated alarm device 12. It will thus be seen that the valve 23 effectually closes communication between the pipe 19 and the right hand sprinkler system so that there will be no'passage of the water from the system which is in operation to the other ofthe sprinkler systems. After the pressure of water decreases, the valve plate 23 will return to itsnormal position upon the seat 21 and the water will drain back through the pipes 19. and '18 and into the return chamber of the right-hand sprinkler system tobe discharged through the waste pipe 11 thereof, while the'water remaining in the otherpipe 18 is drained in a similar manher through the return chamber of the left hand sprinkler system. It will be understood, of course, that when the right-hand sprinkler system isin operation, the valve 23 remains in its normal position upon the seat 21. Thus it will be seen that by the provision of any improved double-acting check valve, only one hydraulically operated alarm device is necessary for two sprinkler systems, and the passage of the water into the pipe 19 from either system is automatiand26 asuitable hand operated valve where v by communication between the pipe 25 and the valve casing may be opened and the water drained flOHl SilHl casing, and the sprinkler pipe 5.

From the foregoing description taken 1n connection with the accompanying drawing, it isbelieved that the construction, manner of operation and several advantages of my improved controlling valve for the alarm operating means may be clearly and fully understood. I am aware of the fact that check valves similar to that above disclosed have been commonly used for various purposes but I am not advised that the particular application of such valve in combination with two sprinkler systems for the purpose above referred to has been previously employed in the art. The advantage incident to such use of the double-acting check valve is believed to be clearly manifest. The device itself is exceedingly simple, may be readily installed and applied at small cost and without necessitating. any material alterations whatever in the construction or arrangement of the several parts of the system.

It is, of course, 1

apparent that the present invention is not confined to use in connection with alarm devices of the type herein disclosed, but any other desirable means for producing an audible alarm in the operation of the iprinkler systems may be substituted there- The invention itself is also susceptible of minor modifications in the form and construction of the several features and I, therefore, reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing I have shown a slightly modified form of the valve wherein the valve casing is provided with two diverging branches 27 adapted to be coupled to the pipes 18 ofthe respective sprinkler systems. The valve seats 27 are obliquely inclined and the valve plate 23 is pivotally mounted between said valve seats, as at 24.

its closed position so that it will move somewhat more quickly and under a less pressure from one position to the other, than is the case in the operation of the valve first described.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is 1. The combination With tWo automatic sprinkler systems and a single, hydraulicallyoperated alarm device, of a pipe extending from each sprinkler system, a supply pipe for the alarm device, a T-shaped coupling member connecting said pipes and having internal valve seats extending at right angles with respect to each other, a valve plate pivotally mounted within the coupling member at the juncture of the valve seats to engage upon the respective seats and prevent the passage of water from one sprinkler system into the other when the former is in operation, said valve, when in either position, being disposed in parallel relation to the direction of flow of the water from the operating sprinkler system into the supply pipe of the alarm device.

2. The combination with two automatic sprinkler systems and a single hydraulically operated alarm device, of a pipe extending from each sprinkler system, a common pipe connection between the first named pipes and the alarm device, and a double-acting check valve interposed between said pipes at the juncture thereof to prevent the passage of Water from one system into the other, when the former is in operation, said valve being held by the water pressure against movement to maintain open communication between the operating sprinkler system and the alarm device.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

PATRICK JAMES NEILON.

Witnesses:

W. B. SLUSSER, S. M. GARnn'roN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ot Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

